Variety of Hydrangea plant named ‘Strada’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Hydrangea  plant having red/white-colored flowers and black-colored, strong stems.

Botanical classification: Hydrangea macrophylla.

Varietal denomination: ‘STRADA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant known by the varietal name ‘Strada’. The new variety was discovered in 2003 in a planned breeding program in Salgen-Hausen, Germany. The purpose of the breeding program was to develop Hydrangeas with improved flower colors and black stems. The new variety is the result of a cross between seedling G6 (female parent, unpatented) and ‘Mars’ (male parent, unpatented). The black stem color of ‘Strada’ is similar to its female parent, but it differs from seedling G6 in flower color. The flowers of ‘Strada’ are similar to ‘Mars’, but its leaf shape, black stem and flower color are different from ‘Mars’. The new variety was first asexually reproduced in 2004 via propagation by cuttings in Salgen-Hausen, Germany. The new variety has been trial and field tested in Germany and has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics and remain true to type through successive propagations.

The following traits distinguish ‘Strada’ as a new and distinct cultivar from other Hydrangea varieties known to the breeder:

-   -   1. Black stem color instead of green stem color;     -   2. Red/White flower color;     -   3. Frost resistance;     -   4. Stem strength; and     -   5. Mold resistance, such as Botrytis.

‘Strada’ is similar to another Hydrangea variety, ‘Stramalyn’ (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 12/384,252), because they both have black stems that are strong. However, ‘Strada’ differs from ‘Stramalyn’ in flower color.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photographic drawings illustrate the new variety, with the color being as nearly true as is possible with color illustrations of this type:

FIG. 1 is a photograph of the new variety; and

FIG. 2 is a close-up photograph of an inflorescence of the new variety.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following detailed description sets forth characteristics of the new cultivar. The plants were grown in 15 cm. pots, 8 per m², in ordinary potting soil with granulated fertilizers at a pH of 6.0. The plants were two years old when described. Measurements and color readings of the plants were taken in Salgen-Hausen, Germany under natural light. Color references are primarily to the HTML Color Chart.

PLANT

-   Time to initiate roots: About 14 days at 22° C. -   Time to develop roots: About 18 days at 18-20° C. -   Rooting habit: Moderate. -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant from a rooted cutting:     About 48 weeks in a 15 cm. container. -   Form: Mounded. -   Height (from media surface to top of foliage): 45.0-50.0 cm. -   Height (from media surface to top of flowers): 50.0-55.0 cm. -   Plant diameter: 35.0 cm. -   Vigor: Good. -   Strength: Good. -   Branching habit: Moderately-branched. -   Trunk:     -   -   Main trunk length.—10.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—1.0 cm.         -   Color.—00 00 00.         -   Texture.—Shiny.         -   Pubescence.—Absent.         -   Internode length.—1.5-2.0 cm. -   Lateral branches:     -   -   Length.—Young: 40.0 cm. Mature: 10.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—Young: 0.5 cm. Mature: 0.5 cm.         -   Internode length.—7.0-8.0 cm.         -   Texture.—Shiny.         -   Pubescence.—Absent.         -   Color.—Young: Chartreuse 7F FF 00. Mature: Dark Green 00 64             00. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Single.         -   Stipules.—Length: 5.0 cm. Width: 3.5 cm. Color (both             surfaces): Forest Green 22 8B 22.         -   Size of leaf.—Length: 8.0 cm. Width: 4.5 cm.         -   Shape of leaf (generally).—Young: Aristate. Mature:             Aristate.         -   Shape of apex.—Lanceolate and attenuate.         -   Shape of base.—Round.         -   Texture.—Shiny.         -   Aspect.—V-formed.         -   Margin type.—Serrate.         -   Pubescence.—None present.         -   Color.—Young leaves: Upper surface: Forest Green 22 8B 22.             Lower surface: Forest Green 22 8B 22. Mature leaves: Upper             surface: Dark Green 00 64 00. Lower surface: Dark Green 00             64 00.         -   Petiole.—Shape: Square. Length: 1.5 cm. Diameter: 1.5 cm.             Color: Maroon 80 00 00.         -   Veins.—Color: Upper surface: EE E8 AA. Lower surface: EE E8             AA.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: May through September in Ermelo, The     Netherlands. -   Blooming habit: Early blooming and continuous. -   Bud:     -   -   Shape of cluster.—Round.         -   Diameter of cluster.—10.0 cm.         -   Number of buds per cluster.—Approximately 50.         -   Shape.—Ball.         -   Length.—2.0 mm.         -   Width.—1.0 mm. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Shape.—Round.         -   Length.—12.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—12.0 cm.         -   Average number of flowers per inflorescence.—Approximately             40.         -   Average number of inflorescences per plant.—5 or more,             depending on frost conditions that year.         -   Lastingness of an individual flower.—6 to 8 weeks.         -   Lastingness of an inflorescence.—6 to 8 weeks. -   Petals:     -   -   Number per flower.—4.         -   Color.—Upper surface: Red FF 00 00 in the middle, surrounded             by White FF FA F0. Mixed where colors join. Lower surface:             Red FF 00 00 in the middle, surrounded by White FF FA F0.             Mixed where colors join.         -   Shape.—Square.         -   Length.—1.5 cm.         -   Width.—1.5 cm.         -   Apex.—Lanceolate and attenuate.         -   Base.—Round.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture.—Shiny.         -   Tonality from a distance.—Unique and shiny bi-colored             flowers. -   Sepals:     -   -   Number per flower.—4.         -   Color.—Upper surface: Red FF 00 00 00 in the middle,             surrounded by White FF FA F0. Colors mix where joined. Lower             surface: Red FF 00 00 in the middle, surrounded by White FF             FA F0. Colors mix where joined and a tiny amount of EE E8 AA             is present.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate and attenuate.         -   Length.—3.0 mm.         -   Width.—1.5 mm.         -   Apex.—Lanceolate and attenuate.         -   Base.—Triangular.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture.—Shiny.         -   Fused.—No. -   Petaloids:     -   -   Quantity.—4.         -   Shape.—Round.         -   Length.—2.0 mm.         -   Width.—1.0 mm.         -   Color.—Upper surface: White FF FA F0. Lower surface: White             FF FA F0. -   Pedicels:     -   -   Length.—1.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—1.0 mm.         -   Color.—A mixture of White FF FA F0 Hot Pink FF 69 B4. -   Peduncles:     -   -   Length.—2.0 to 3.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—3.0 mm.         -   Texture.—Shiny.         -   Color.—Green 00 64 00. -   Stamens:     -   -   Number per fertile flower.—10.         -   Filament.—Length: 3.0 to 6.0 mm. Color: White FF FA F0.         -   Anthers.—Shape: Elongated oval. Length: 2.0 to 3.0 mm.             Color: White FF FA F0.         -   Pollen.—Color: Yellow FF FF 00. Amount: Abundant. -   Pistils:     -   -   Number.—1.         -   Length.—5.0 mm.         -   Style.—Length: 5.0 mm. Color: White FF FA F0.         -   Stigma.—Number: 1. Shape: Compact. Color: Yellow FF FF 00.             Size: 0.5 cm².         -   Ovaries (superior).—Length: 1.5 mm. Width: 1.5 mm. Color:             Yellow FF FF 00. -   Fragrance: None observed. -   Disease resistance: Tolerant to Botrytis and powdery mildew. -   Temperature tolerance: Very good. -   Drought tolerance: Medium. 

1. A new and distinct variety of Hydrangea plant substantially as shown and described herein. 